Ontario Ministry of Finance Grants & Loans: Guide for Business Owners

Ministry of Finance Funding Programs

Below are links to Ministry of Finance’s specific programs by types of funding:

Tax credits and benefits for various audiences:

• The Co-operative Education Tax Credit is for employers who hire students enrolled in a co-operative education program at an Ontario university or college

• The cultural media tax credits are: the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit, the Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit, and the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit . In Ontario, these tax credits are administered by Ontario Creates .

• The research and innovation tax credits are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of Ontario through the federal income tax system. The specific tax credits are: the Ontario Business Research Institute Tax Credit, the Ontario Innovation Tax Credit and the Ontario Research and Development Tax Credit.

• The Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit supports business investment, economic growth and job creation in designated regions across the province that lagged in employment growth between 2009 and 2019. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers tax credits on behalf of Ontario.

• The Political Contribution Tax Credit for Corporations is for corporations who participated in the provincial political process by making a financial contribution to an Ontario candidate, constituency association, or political party before January 1, 2017. This tax is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

• The Small Beer Manufacturers Tax Credit supports beer manufacturers with permanent establishments in Ontario. They may qualify in respect of eligible sales of draft and non‑draft beer sold to purchasers in Ontario during a sales year, if they meet certain criteria, including limits on production.

• The Community Food Program Donation Tax Credit for Farmers  supports farmers who donate agricultural products to eligible community food programs in Ontario.

• The Ontario Dividend Tax Credit is intended to compensate individual shareholders for income tax paid by Canadian companies in which they have invested.

• The Ontario Focused Flow-Through Share Tax Credit is applicable to investors that have flow-through shares in a mining and exploration corporation.

Refunds and rebates

• The Ontario Retail Sales Tax for Used Vehicles Purchased Privately for the used vehicles they purchased.

• The Refund of Retail Sales Tax on Insurance or Benefit Plan Premiums for the premiums they paid on insurances or benefit plans.

• Retailers and wholesalers might qualify for a refund for specific products (gasoline, propane, aviation fuel, clear fuel or tobacco -cigars, cigarettes) also in case of bad debt (BDT), loss of product (PRL) /overpayment of tax, or tax exempt sales (TES).